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Sunday, 31 January 2016

Hi Everyone!Here is a quick video of the unbagging of FabBag January 2016 Edition.

Natural Bath & Body French Red Clay Face Mask

Product Price: INR 450/- for 100 gms

Sample Size in Bag: 20 gms

Natural Bath & Body Whipped Cream

Product Price: INR 275/- for 50 gms

Sample Size in Bag: 15 gms

Votre Face Serum

Product Price: INR 1670/- for 12 ml

Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

BBlunt Spotlight Hair Polish

Product Price: INR 250/- for 30 ml

Sample Size in Bag: 30 ml (FullSize)

Sugar Matte As Hell Crayon Lipstick in 04 Holly Golightly

Product Price: INR 799/- for 2.8 gms

Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

Fashionography Ear Studs

Price: Not mentioned.

I am very impressed with the January 2016 Bag. The curation is excellent and had me really excited. The personal touch this time went beyond the bag. I had forgotten whether my subscription ended in December '15 of January '16. So I called their number and the team immediately sent me a link to renew my subscription and sent me a link to choose my favourite Sugar Matte as Hell Crayon Lipstick. However the link that came in the mail, took me a page where there were many things to choose from, but no lip crayon. o confirm whether I had been able to register my choice, Team FabBag called me back and personally registered by choice. I am floored!

Verdict on the Bag: Great, value wise. 3 full sized products! Wow!

Total Value of Bag: INR 2891/- (Approx) Wow! Considering that a month's subscription is INR 499/-

FabBag is a monthly subscription service starting at INR 499/-. Each month's bag contains 3-5 products from national and international brands ranging from drugstore to luxury. Product sizes range from small sample sizes to full size. To join this service click HERE.

Friday, 29 January 2016

Hey Everyone!This is a post of firsts. Its my first 'First Impressions' post, first 'talk-through' video post, first beauty vlog.... etc., etc....I recently bought the real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge at a really good discount on Amazon. And it just struck me that I could do a First Impression video... So I just got to doing it, and here it is!

I know of course, that it is not a patch on what some vlogger gurus have achieved, but I thought why take myself seriously!So enjoy the video, critique it, give me suggestions, but most important smile!

I will be doing a detailed review of this sponge in a bit. I'm not sure I its going to be a video, so lets see what happens!Use the comments box below to show some love...Buy this product HEREThink and Stay Beautiful!

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Come winter in north India Gobi Gajar and Shalgam ka achhar (Indian Pickled Cauliflowers,Carrots and Turnips) is a household must do. Since every family has their tried and tested secret recipe tucked away there are as many versions of this recipe.My friend Raseel and I decided to try out her family recipe . " for years my mother made this achaar and gave us, it's time I used her recipe and gave her some"...So she dug into the recipe book of her 85 year old mother, Satwant Sawhney , an alumni of Lady Irwin College , Delhi...and I hope you enjoy making and sharing it with others as much as we did ...and as did Raseel's mother for all these years! This recipe will make around 6 large 1 kg jars. It is slightly time consuming so save an afternoon for this. And as we realized it's fun doing it with friends.You will need :2 kgs each of carrots, cauliflower and turnip. Get the freshest possible , it adds to the taste. Do not peel, wash well cut into 2 inch strips, slices or florets and dry for 3-4 hrs in the sun or use the fan overnight.

1. In a large karahi, heat oil till it fumes , add the garlic, ginger, onion paste and fry till golden in colour. Remove from fire. 2. Add the chilli powders and salt and mix well and let it cool.

3. When cool add Garam masala and rai powder.

4. Divide this mixture into 4 parts . Similarly divide the vegetables too into four parts and mix each portion of the prepared masala into a portion of the vegetables. This division is important to ensure a balanced mixing.

5. Put into jars and leave in the sun for 3-4 days. The vegetables will mature in the spices and settle leaving space in the jar. This breathing space is important for the next step.

6. Heat the vinegar and Gur after the last step has been achieved. Using a spoon evenly pour into the jars.

7. The pickle will be ready in another 2 days.
Enjoy and share.Do let me know your variation of the same pickle.Devjani is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. She loves to share easy recipes, ideas to keep kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

Monday, 25 January 2016

Hey Everyone!Spring is almost upon us, after an exceptionally mild winter. So I though to do a fresh make-up with muted colours in a bid to welcome the new season. I have kept the look light with a neutral eye with a hint of gold on the lids. A gentle, winged out liner on the top lashes, softly coloured cheeks and glossy, plummy-pink lips.Do remember to moisturise your skin well before starting out, to counter the dryness and avoid a flaky base.I was quite happy with the result and thought to share it with you...

List of Products Used for the Look:

Polaar Icy Magic Instant Skin Perfector

Lakme 9 to 5 Flawless Makeup in Shell (Foundation)

Maybelline New York Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Honey

Lakme Absolute Face Stylist Concealer in 05 Honey

Chambor Silver Shadow Powder Compact in RR5 Noisette

MUA Mosaic Bronzer in Sunkissed Glow Shade 02

Maybelline New York Cheeky Glow Blush in Creamy Cinnamon

Revlon Highlighting Palette in 020 Rose Glow

Beauty UK Eye Shadow Collection in 07 Naked

Maybelline New York The Colossal Liner in Black

Catrice Longlasting Eye Pencil in 050 Brown Town Girl

Lakme Eyeconic Eyeliner Pencil in Brown

Maybelline New York The Falsies Volume Express Mascara

Maybelline New York The Jewels Lipstick in 82 Refined Wine

Maybelline New York Lip Polish in Glam 13

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water (to set the makeup)

Hope you liked the look as well. How is your spring look shaping up? Let me know in the comments box below!

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Hey Everyone!Time for another review. This time its a lip product for the Lakme stables. I picked up the colour Plum Rush since I was looking for a deeper shade for the winters. Let us see how the product fared on me...Product Price INR 650/- for 3 gms

Product Claim:

This is more than just a hint of tint! The new Lakme Absolute Lip Pout brings you a thick creamy Crayon that will give your lips a rich deep color and incredible shine in just one stroke. A range of high performance make-up collection, these lip tints come in pop, happy colors that will make your pout definitely stand out! Pick the Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Creme Lip Color in Coral Pink, right away!

Extra creamy lipcolor with excellent color pay off

Retractable pencil that requires no sharpener

To be stored below 30°C

Comfortable application and Vibrant shades

Available in 10 shades

My Take on the Product:

The Lip Crayon comes in a plastic case with a silver coloured cap. It has a twist-up format which I really like, since it means almost no product wastage. The formula itself is really creamy and moisturising. The colour pay-off is quite good, considering this is a lip tint. It has a mild, candy-like fragrance and after-taste, if you happen to lick your lips, But it disappears soon and didn't really bother me.

The shade that I picked up is called Plum Rush. It is a rich, brownish red colour that adds warmth to my complexion. It has a very 'lip balmy' texture. The application is smooth. But it tends to be a bit streaky on the first swipe. It takes about 2-3 swipes to even out the colour on the lips. The Lip Tint has a lovely sheen on application. The product is really moisturising, though you cannot apply it over chapped lips. The product tends to 'grab' around the dry bits. I do not have very dry lips, so it worked pretty well for me.

The Lip Tint survived some light snacking, but smudges and wears off during meals. It is not transfer resistant so it will stain glasses as you drink. It did settle into the fine lines of the lips, but I spotted it only when I looked very, very carefully. So That is not really an issue. The product does not really stain when it wears off, just leaves behind a hint of colour. Reapplication is not a problem. And I love the fact that it is easy to remove. I hate long-lasting lipsticks and eye products, which require too much rubbing and scrubbing to get off your face at the end of the day!

Overall Verdict: 3.5/5. Though I liked the product very much, it is unlikely I will buy any more shades from this range. Similar products are available at a much lower price point, especially if you are looking to buy the lighter shades in this range. However, all said and done, its a nice product for dry lips.

Monday, 18 January 2016

Hey Readers!Here's another look, easy to create, as all my looks are. This time I did a wine pink eye with a matte pink lip. Its an easy day look. I am never comfortable with heavy layers of makeup. I was dressing in a hurry to meet some old friends, and I liked how it turned out, so I decided to share this look with you all.

Products Used for This Look:

L'Oreal Paris Base Magique Transforming Smoothing Primer

SeaSoul HD Finish CC Cream

Maybelline New York Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Honey

Maybelline New York Clear Glow All-in-One Compact in 02 Nude Beige

Maybelline New York Diamond Glow by EyeStudio Eye Shadow in 02 Wine Pink

Friday, 15 January 2016

Hi Everyone!I was looking over my blogs list, and realised that I had not done a recipe post in a while. I absolutely love chicken and any experimental cooking that I do usually involves, well, chicken!So here is another one. The Husband bought some mushrooms on the way back home and I had some chicken in the freezer. So I started putting this and that together. Fortunately I remembered to click a few photos along the way.The end result.... some finger licking and clean plates!

Ingredients:

500-600 gms of chicken on the bone (give better and richer flavour than boneless)

1 medium sized onion, chopped

5-6 cloves of garlic,pealed and crushed

Garlic an Inch and a half knob, crushed

Juice of half a lemon

Some Rosemary or any herbs that you would like to use (I had this at home)

Black pepper crushed about a teaspoon

Any creamy dressing, I had this honey mustard one.

For the Sauce:

250 gms of button mushrooms, thickly sliced

1 teaspoon olive oil (or any of your choice)

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons of wheat flour

Salt to taste

Method:

Wash the chicken well.

Put it in a pressure cooker with a cup of water, ginger, garlic and onions. Keep the burner flame high till the first whistle. Then reduce to simmer for the next 5 minutes.

While the chicken is in the cooker, heat 1 teaspoon for olive oil, and sear the sliced mushrooms on a high flame.

Lower the heat and add a cup of milk and wheat flour and stir till all the lumps disappear.

Increase heat and bring to a boil,reduce heat when the sauce begins to thicken.

Add the boiled chicken to this sauce and add salt to taste.

Add rosemary, crushed black pepper and the dressing to this sauce. Simmer for about 5 minutes. turn off the heat.

Add the lemon juice after 5 minutes.

Serve hot with pasta or bread.

Note: You may add colourful vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers of different colours add a greater nutritional punch!

Thursday, 14 January 2016

This month, My Envy Box comes in an indigo blue colour with its gold accents wishing us a Happy 2016,

L'Oreal Paris Glam Shine Balmy Gloss Lip Crayon in Lychee Lust

Product Price: INR 475/-

Sample Size in Box: Full Size

This is a familiar product and I have done a review of this earlier. You can check it HERE. The shade I have received is Lychee Lust and its too sheer for me. So this particular product will go to my niece.

Eternity Now by Calvin Klein

Product Price: INR 3800/- for 50 ml

Sample Size in Box: 1.2 ml

I have always enjoyed the Eternity series of fragrances by CK and this number is really nice too! It is a mix of floral notes, but thankfully not the sickly sweet type. It has a fresh feel to ot and reminds me of spring.

O3+ White Day Cream

Product Price: INR 775/- for 50 gms

Sample Size in Box: 10ml x 2

MEB has been sending O3+ products for two months in a row. I have no tried any products from this brand before, so I'm curious about how this will fare on me. Will let you know when I do try them out.

Mantra Kokkum Butter and Pistachio Winter Care Lotion

Product Price: INR 493/- for 100 ml

Sample Size in Box: Full Size

I love body lotions in winters and this seems like a nice product. It is free of silicones, parabens and paraffin. I will be trying this and watch out for a review soon!

I love natural cleansers and oats is a good exfoliant and humectant. I'm definitely looking forward to trying out the product!

Total Value: INR 1533/- approx.

Overall Verdict: My Envy Box is certainly trying to overcome its October 2015 debacle. As I have been following the unboxing of this subscription service, I can see many are feeling doubtful about renewing their subscriptions. I have 4 more boxes to go. So I'm in no hurry to write them off just yet....

My Envy Box is a subscription service which brings you 5 trial sized beauty products (typically 2ml-10ml) from the top international luxury and prestige brands delivered to your door step every month. Priced at INR 850/- for a month, it may be subscribed for 3, 6, or 12 months. You may subscribe to this service HERE